Recently I went and saw Alan Cumming in concert. Afterwards, even though I was familiar with this memoir, I had to read it. It took a bit for it to become available from the library, but once it did, I devoured this book. One of the things that struck me at the concert was just how joyous and gracious he was. He talked a great deal about things that are in the book so they dovetail well. But the contrast with the trauma in the book and the joyousness of his concert made the book rather compelling. As might be obvious from the title, he talks about his father a fair bit in the book, and even though his relationship with his father is not like mine, there were some moments where I found myself struck by what he had to say. To end on a lighter note I have to say that even though he didn't say it in the book, at every mention of Eli in the book I heard his concert self saying, "Alicia! What the hell's going on?"
37. Murder in the Dark by Kerry Greenwood
I wasn't going to read a Phryne just yet. I hardly have any left and I love them. I was going to read a book about physics or another Indonesia book. In fact I started both of them, but the crazy situation in the US and at work meant I just needed Phryne. This one is set at the end of 1928 at an opulent end-of-the-year week-long bash. It felt like another world... just what I needed! Though I concede the quote that grabbed doesn't seem far removed from our world...
38. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
This was a hard read for me, not least of all because she only passed away 4 months ago. I of course loved Princess Leia in the first two movies- Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back. She talks about Star Wars and her relationship with Princess Leia. The part that fascinated me the most was reading her writing then and now (2016 is still now for a bit).
39. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
This book is presented as a ghost story set in a mysterious house in northern New Hampshire.Well, a ghost story AND in New Hampshire! Sign me up! A house my parents considered in the old granite state was reported to be haunted, and I was so mad that my parents hadn't bought it! I guess that says quite a bit about me... This house, however, is not a house nor a town I would want to live in...
40. The Great Passage by Shion Miura
A novel about making a dictionary, a love of words and language... This is a delightful book about the making of a dictionary in Japan. The love of words and books comes across so very clearly in this book. I'm adding this book to my list of great books about books!!
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